HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4112        FILED ON: 3/20/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3851

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act regarding penalties for failing to comply with department order..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTTION 1.  Chapter 164 of the general Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 17A the following new section:-

Section 17B.  Any distribution, transmission or gas company employee, director, or agent that knowingly fails or neglects to obey or comply with the provisions of this chapter or department order or department regulation, shall pay a penalty of $100,000 for each offense; provided however, that if the failure is act results in personal or property damage from said acts, the company shall pay a penalty of $500,000 for each offense.  Penalties paid under this section shall not be recovered in any form from ratepayers.